Introduction
Colson Whitehead’s *The Underground Railroad* (2016) offers a powerful reimagining of the historical Underground Railroad as a literal network of subterranean tracks, tracing the journey of Cora, an enslaved woman, as she seeks freedom from the brutalities of slavery in the antebellum South. This essay examines the extent to which Cora’s level of freedom is determined by her social position and status as an enslaved African American woman. Through an analysis of her experiences in different states—Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Indiana—the discussion explores how systemic oppression, racial hierarchies, and gender dynamics shape her agency and ability to achieve lasting liberation. While Cora’s social position initially confines her to a state of extreme subjugation, her journey reveals how resistance, community support, and individual determination can challenge, if not fully overcome, the constraints imposed by her status. Thus, this essay argues that while Cora’s freedom is heavily dictated by her social position, her personal resilience and the spaces she navigates provide limited but significant opportunities to subvert these limitations.
Georgia: The Foundation of Oppression
In Georgia, Cora’s life on the Randall plantation epitomises the absolute lack of freedom that defines her social position as an enslaved woman. Her status strips her of basic human rights, rendering her subject to relentless violence and dehumanisation. Whitehead illustrates this through the brutal punishments inflicted on slaves, such as the whipping of Big Anthony, which serves as a public reminder of the consequences of resistance (Whitehead, 2016). Cora herself endures physical and psychological torment, compounded by her vulnerability as a woman; her mother’s abandonment and the sexual violence implied within the plantation’s power dynamics further entrench her powerlessness. As Davis (1981) argues, enslaved women faced a dual oppression of race and gender, often exploited in ways that male slaves were not. Cora’s initial inability to escape reflects how her social status—rooted in the intersection of race, gender, and enslavement—creates an almost impenetrable barrier to freedom. Yet, her eventual decision to flee via the Underground Railroad signals the first fracture in this determinism, suggesting that while her position limits her, it does not wholly extinguish her capacity for agency.
South Carolina: Illusory Freedom and Institutional Control
Upon reaching South Carolina, Cora encounters what appears to be a progressive environment where escaped slaves are offered jobs, education, and medical care. However, this freedom is illusory, as her status as a Black woman continues to dictate her vulnerability. The state’s eugenics program, which secretly sterilises Black women under the guise of healthcare, reveals how systemic racism adapts to maintain control over marginalised bodies (Whitehead, 2016). As Roberts (1997) notes, such practices historically aimed to limit Black reproduction, reinforcing racial hierarchies under the pretext of social reform. Cora’s discovery of this betrayal forces her to flee once more, demonstrating that her social position—marked by race and gender—renders even supposed safe havens unsafe. Thus, while South Carolina offers a semblance of freedom, it ultimately underscores how deeply her status determines the constraints on her autonomy, regardless of geographic shifts.
Tennessee: Exposure and Precarious Resistance
In Tennessee, Cora’s journey takes a perilous turn as she is recaptured by the slave catcher Ridgeway, embodying the ever-present threat of her social position catching up with her. Here, her status as a fugitive slave marks her as a target for extreme violence, with no legal or social protection (Whitehead, 2016). The state’s landscape, described as scarred by fire and destruction, mirrors the devastation of her hopes for liberation. Furthermore, her dependence on others, such as Royal and the Underground Railroad operatives, highlights the fragility of her freedom; without their intervention, her recapture would likely have been permanent. This precariousness aligns with Patterson’s (1982) concept of “social death,” where enslaved individuals exist in a state of perpetual alienation from societal rights. Nevertheless, Cora’s survival through this hostile environment—facilitated by covert networks—indicates that while her status severely restricts her freedom, the collective resistance of others offers fleeting but crucial opportunities to defy these limitations.
Indiana: Community and Conditional Liberty
Indiana represents a significant shift in Cora’s journey as she finds temporary refuge at Valentine Farm, a Black community dedicated to self-sufficiency and education. For the first time, her social position aligns with a supportive network that values her humanity, granting her a degree of freedom previously unimaginable (Whitehead, 2016). She engages in intellectual growth and forms meaningful relationships, particularly with Royal, suggesting that community can partially counteract the constraints of her status. However, this liberty remains conditional; the farm’s destruction by white vigilantes reinforces the persistent threat posed by her race and social position in a racist society. As Morrison (1993) argues, Black freedom in America has historically been undermined by systemic violence, even in spaces of apparent safety. Therefore, while Indiana offers Cora a glimpse of autonomy, her status as a Black woman ensures that complete freedom remains elusive, perpetually threatened by external forces.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Cora’s level of freedom in *The Underground Railroad* is overwhelmingly determined by her social position and status as an enslaved African American woman, though her personal agency and the varying contexts of her journey provide limited avenues for resistance. From the brutal oppression in Georgia to the deceptive reforms of South Carolina, the violent exposure in Tennessee, and the conditional refuge in Indiana, each stage of her odyssey reveals how systemic racism and gendered oppression constrain her autonomy. Yet, her persistent pursuit of liberation—supported at times by communal networks—demonstrates that while her status imposes severe limitations, it does not entirely eliminate her capacity to challenge them. This analysis underscores the broader implications of Whitehead’s narrative: true freedom for individuals like Cora requires not just individual effort but the dismantling of societal structures that perpetuate inequality. Indeed, her story serves as a poignant reminder of the enduring impact of social hierarchies on personal liberty, urging a critical reflection on historical and contemporary forms of oppression.
References
- Davis, A. Y. (1981) Women, Race & Class. Random House.
- Morrison, T. (1993) Playing in the Dark: Whiteness and the Literary Imagination. Harvard University Press.
- Patterson, O. (1982) Slavery and Social Death: A Comparative Study. Harvard University Press.
- Roberts, D. (1997) Killing the Black Body: Race, Reproduction, and the Meaning of Liberty. Pantheon Books.
- Whitehead, C. (2016) The Underground Railroad. Doubleday.
Word Count: 1023 (including references)
